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| Pope Francis, between First Lady, Angélica Rivera and President Peña Nieto Photo: Francisco Cañedo, SinEmbargo |
This morning, at the National Palace, President Enrique Peña Nieto spoke before Pope Francisco on the challenges, the need for dialogue and solidarity, and the Pontiff responded regarding the wealth that is Mexico, and said:
"Every time we seek the path of privilege or benefit of a few to the detriment of the good of all, sooner or later, life in society becomes a fertile ground for corruption, drug trafficking, exclusion of different cultures, violence and even human trafficking, kidnapping and death, causing suffering and hampering development."Pope, 79, called for forging "the common good that doesn't enjoy a good market in the 21st century" and find "new forms of dialogue, negotiation, bridges" to walk the "path of solidarity and commitment."
Francis was received in the National Palace, the seat of government, by President Enrique Peña Nieto in the presence of the diplomatic corps, businessmen and representatives of the three branches of government, to whom he delivered his first speech.
"It is the responsibility of the leaders of social, cultural and political life, in a special way, to offer all citizens the opportunity to become worthy agents of their own destiny," he said.Francis is the first head of the Catholic Church to be received by a president at the seat of the Mexican government. [MV Note: Since the Mexican Revolution, 1910-17, the Mexican State has officially been secular and the Church was actively repressed during the 1920s. Anti-church articles in the Constitution were only removed in the 1990s.]
After several formal events, greeting senior officials and meeting privately with the President, who delivered a welcome message, the pope gave a speech with a strong message against inequality and for the common good to have a "bright future" .
Francisco said that in a country as diverse as Mexico, "privileged" with its own identity and wealth "your indigenous, mestizo [mixed indigenous and Spanish] and Creole [Spanish] cultures," it is necessary that political institutions, civil society and the market "commit themselves to the search for the common good and the promotion of the dignity of the person."
"An ancient culture and a hopeful human capital, like yours, has to be a source of encouragement to find new forms of dialogue, negotiation, bridges capable of guiding us along the path of solidarity and commitment."For his part, Peña Nieto stressed the importance of the papal visit at a time when mankind "undergoes changes that cause doubt and uncertainty.
"We give you the most warm and fraternal welcome to our country," said the president. "Mexico loves you."The Pope said:
"I thank the President for your welcoming remarks. It is a source of joy to tread this Mexican land, which occupies a special place in the Americas, I come with mercy and peace, but also as a son who wants to pay tribute to his mother, the Virgin of Guadalupe and be pampered by her.
"Seeking to be a good son, following in the footsteps of his mother, he wants, in turn, to pay tribute to these people, to its culture and diversity. I want to embrace the Mexican people in its various expressions, and challenges with which they live. Thanks for having me today in your land," he said....Subsequently, receiving Pope Francis in the Metropolitan Cathedral, Francisco Robles Ortega, president of the Mexican Bishops Conference, said:
"Mexico faces difficult situations caused by people who, having been seduced by sin, cause injustice, inequality, poverty , corruption, migration, violence, environmental damage, suffering and death."In the Plaza
For Pope Francisco, there was applause. For the President, boos and catcalls. So went the reception for the Pope at the National Palace this morning in a Zocalo [main plaza in front of the National Palace and Cathedral] crowded with visitors in the stands and open plaza.
Francisco received applause and forceful shouts: "We want to see the Pope! We want to see the Pope!
When he spoke of drug trafficking, human trafficking and violence, the audience showered applause. But when Peña Nieto spoke, a huge boo echoed in the Zocalo, where officials announced there were about 70 thousand people.
When Peña told the Pope that his presence would hope for millions of "mejocanos" [apparent mispronunciation of "mejicanos", 'x' and 'j' are pronounced as 'h' is in English] the hissing and booing sharpened. Then Peña spoke of good and evil. A man from Monterrey showed others attending photographs of the riot in Topo Chico prison.
"Several of us came from Monterrey; the Viva Aerobus flights all came filled. I came to see the pope and to carry out activism," said Rubén Guajardo Espinosa.Ruben said many activists came from Monterrey dressed in jeans, black shirts and with a red or yellow bandanna. In Rubén's photos of there were pregnant women in crisis outside the prison, ambulances and people unconscious.
"We are asking you to convey what happened in Topo Chico, what's going on there with human rights," he said.